Chapter 289: Yearning
Editor: Atlas Studios
The first snow of this winter only fell that night. After that, it fell three times in a row. It lasted not long, only half a night. However, when the sky cleared, the snow was half a foot high on the flat ground that no one had stepped on. When one stepped on it, it covered one’s calves. Naturally, it was under the condition that one was wearing boots.
Under such circumstances, Mu Yangling naturally couldn’t go out, so she only went to the rabbit shed every day. Otherwise, she would stay at home and read books. It was extremely leisurely.
Therefore, she didn’t expect to meet Butcher Qin under such circumstances.
Butcher Qin had specially come to look for Mu Yangling. He was wearing a cotton shirt and his shoes were all wet. Mu Yangling looked at him in shock, and her first reaction was, “Don’t tell me you walked all the way here?”
Her second reaction was, “Is there a problem with the mutton?” Hence, the victim came knocking on her door.
Seeing her face darken, Butcher Qin hurriedly explained, “No, the sheep are excellent. I came to look for Miss Mu to do business with you.”
Only then did Mu Yangling heave a sigh of relief. “Let’s talk when we get back.”
Mu Yangling invited him home and hurriedly asked Xiuhong to bring the brazier over. She also asked her mother for a set of her father’s clothes for Butcher Qin to change into.
After Butcher Qin toured the Mu Residence, he could tell with just one look that the Mu family was living a good life. No wonder Mu Yangling had the guts to sell so many sheep to Hanzhong Prefecture.
“Uncle Qin came alone?”
Butcher Qin shook his head. “I have a friend accompanying me. He’s currently in an inn in the city. I only came to try my luck and didn’t expect to really find you here.”
Mu Yangling smiled. Back then, Butcher Qin had felt that this business was of too big a scale, so he cautiously asked to look at Mu Yangling’s road pass. That was how he knew that she lived here.
“Uncle Qin, what business do you need me for?”
Butcher Qin put down his teacup and leaned forward slightly. “Miss, you might not know, but not long after you left, the price of mutton increased again. However, our supplier now charges us an even higher price for the mutton. These days, our profit per catty of mutton is even less than eight copper coins.”
“So?”
“Therefore, I discussed it with my friend and borrowed money from the bank to buy sheep in Hanzhong Prefecture.” With a sigh, Butcher Qin said, “But now, Xingzhou Prefecture is under martial law. Unless we have a road pass and a permit stamped by the government office, we can’t enter.”
Mu Yangling frowned in confusion. Previously, the government office at Hanzhong Prefecture was not so strict.
“Miss Mu, you also know that other than bribes, you have to find the right person to do things at the government office. My friend and I only found out about this when we arrived at Xingzhou Prefecture. We’re unfamiliar with this place. We found two people and spent nearly 20 taels of silver, but we didn’t even see a trace of the permit. We weren’t willing to make a wasted trip, so I came to look for you, to see if there’s a way to help us or if you know where we can find grassland sheep.”
Mu Yangling couldn’t give him an answer immediately. “I’ll help you ask.”
Not expecting Mu Yangling to be so straightforward, Butcher Qin laughed and cupped his hands at her. “Then I’ll thank Miss Mu in advance. If it succeeds, my friend and I will definitely show our appreciation handsomely. I just don’t know when we’ll get the letter.”
Mu Yangling didn’t know if Qi Haoran was in the military camp or not. She hadn’t seen him recently, so she said, “In three days. I’ll try my best. Where can I find you when I get the news?”
“I stay in the Peace Inn in Mingshui County. As long as you go there, you can find me.”
Mu Yangling nodded. After sending him away, she changed into a clean set of clothes and went to the camp. When the soldiers guarding the door saw Mu Yangling, they called for someone to inform Little General while stopping her from entering. “Our Little General said that he doesn’t want to see you now. If you insist on seeing him, don’t make things difficult for me…” You can enter from a place that’s not the main door…
However, before he could finish his sentence, Mu Yangling turned around and left. The soldier opened his mouth wide and stared blankly as Mu Yangling returned where she came from.
Mu Yangling frowned slightly. What was wrong with Qi Haoran?
Little General and Miss Mu loved to play attack and defense games. The soldier stared at her closely to see if Miss Mu was planning to climb the wall and enter. Just as he was about to see which direction she turned to ask his comrades to block her, unexpectedly, Mu Yangling went straight back.
The soldier opened his mouth wide. It was not until Mu Yangling’s back disappeared at the end of the road that he realized that he had caused a huge trouble. He hurriedly got someone to guard the door for him and ran to report it.
Qi Haoran was sitting on the armchair with a serious expression. As soon as there was movement at the door, he snorted and said, “You still know to come?”
“Little General, I have something to report.”
Only then did Qi Haoran realize that it wasn’t who he’d thought it was. His face turned red. Fortunately, he was alone in the room, so embarrassment flashed across his face merely for a brief second. He shouted unhappily, “Come in.”
Qi Haoran glared at the soldier and said angrily, “You’d better have something important to report. Otherwise, run five rounds around the camp.”
A bitter expression appeared on the soldier’s face as he stammered, “Little General, Miss Mu has left.”
Qi Haoran was stunned. “Left? Which direction did she go? Where is she going to sneak in from?”
“Miss Mu was walking towards Chenggu Garrison.” The soldier carefully looked at Qi Haoran’s expression and said, “I saw that Miss Mu seemed to be sad. When she heard that you didn’t want to see her, her eyes turned red and she turned to leave without a word. Her back view was… was…” The soldier thought for a long time before finding a suitable word. “Was so lonely.”
Qi Haoran’s mouth fell open. Then, he jumped up and shouted, “What did you say to her? Didn’t I ask you to just stop her slightly?”
“I only stopped her for a while. Before I could finish speaking, Miss Mu ran away sadly. Little General, quickly go and chase her back.”
Qi Haoran got up, grabbed his cloak, and ran out. He rode his horse and chased after her.
The soldier behind Qi Haoran wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. He prayed that Buddha would bless the Little General and ensure that he could woo Miss Mu back. Otherwise, their lives would only be more difficult in the future.
At this moment, Mu Yangling had just walked out of the camp’s tower’s view. She picked up the withered grass and branches nearby, weaved them into a disguise, and draped them over her body. All she could see was whiteness before her eyes, for there was snow everywhere outside. If she wanted to approach the camp, she could only disguise herself and hope that she could muddle through. These days, it was getting increasingly harder to fool Qi Haoran’s soldiers.
Only then did Mu Yangling walk into the snow. She bent down and quietly approached the camp.
Mu Yangling thought that Qi Haoran wanted her to test his defenses. After all, in the past, when he wanted her to try, he had asked the soldiers guarding the door to stop her from entering. Although what he said this time was a little strange, Mu Yangling felt that she did not misunderstand. Unexpectedly, after walking for more than 20 steps, she heard the sound of horse hooves. Mu Yangling secretly looked up and saw Qi Haoran galloping over on his horse.
Mu Yangling couldn’t care less about being exposed. She suddenly stood up and waved. “Qi Haoran!”
“Phew—” Qi Haoran stopped his horse and suddenly turned to look at Mu Yangling. He saw the person he had been worried about for the past few days smiling brightly at him.
Qi Haoran only felt sour and sweet in his heart. Blinking and suppressing the emotions in his heart, he asked angrily, “Where were you and what were you doing?”
Mu Yangling tilted her head. Did she misunderstand?
“Didn’t you want me to test your defense?” Mu Yangling pointed at the camp and asked.
Qi Haoran was so angry that he leaned back. “It took you half a month to come to me just to test my defenses?”